Part 2

"So wait, he called you?!" Lorelai is walking around town, holding a bunch of bags in one hand.

"Yeah, he called me," Rory said, still reeling with disbelief.

"And it was about finding Paul Anka?" She looks before she crosses.

"Yeah. I could hardly believe it. He called and he said something about not leaving behind personal property and a dog and a leash." Rory gathers some belongings around her room, packing up her bag for the day.

"Wow. I can't believe this."

"I know and ofall people: Logan!"

"And then what happened, Sherlock?"

"And then he was talking about all this stuff about visiting some of his family in the area for some annual summer reunion thingy, and how on his way there he stopped by one of his frat boys' family's house and then they went out for drinks somehwere right outside of Stars Hollow and on the outskirts of Hartford, and that's when he said he found Paul Anka wandering on the side of the road."

"Oh my gosh, Rory. That's as believable as 'Homeward Bound.'" Lorelai trailed off while entering a store.

"And get this. He wants to meet for lunch sometime. He said he'd jet out here to Des Moines in a heartbeat."

"How gentleman of him. I don't know whether to smile or to frown. How do you feel about this? I know you two aren't exactly the inseperable Sonny and Cher."

"I guess you're gonna have to smile because I've already said 'yes'."

"You said yes." Lorelai said flatly, surprised.

"I said yes. I thought: well why not? You never know, time heals everything. Besides, I couldn't say no after knowing that he found Paul Anka for us." Rory zips up her bookbag.

"That is very true. Sounds like you didn't need my help with this one, kiddo. I'm sort of tres offended." Lorelai examines a few items on a shelf.

"No, don't be, mom. It's perfectly fine." Rory places her bookbag strap around her shoulder

"Well, for the record, I told him that I need more time," Lorelai says while looking around the store.

Rory pauses. "Wait a minute, who's 'he' and why did you tell him that you need more time?"

"All of the guys in tuxes at Grandma and Grandpa's last night." Lorelai bites her lip.

"Wait, what?! Is that why you wouldn't pick up your phone last night?"

Lorelai attempts to find an excuse and then eyes Miss Patty outside the store. "I'll tell you more about it later, Ror. Gotta motor," Lorelai quickly hangs up.

"Mom...mom? Hello?" Rory looks at her phone in disbelief and in anger. She throws her phone in her bag and storms out the door.

Lorelai sighs before deciding to open the door and walk towards Miss Patty. "Good morning, Miss Patty."

"Oh Lorelai. So good to see you this early in the morning. What's Paul Anka up to today?"

"Well, I told him he'd better stay home if he knows what's good for him."

"Yeah well, that's what happens when you become a dog owner. You've gotta put your foot down. Keep the wild animal in line. Show 'im who's boss. Take a few doggy treats away if you have to. And a leash is important. Very important."

"Which is why I just got done ordering the gauddiest one, as well as a request for a new, and detailed, tag inscription."

"That's the way to go, Lorelai. So have you and Luke found the mysterious person who found him?"

"Me and Luke?" Lorelai asks, surprised, her eyes widening. Miss Patty stares back at her, nodding and smiling.

"Uh, yeah. Me and Luke." Lorelai chuckles nervously. "Yeah! We have a few ideas as to who the mysterious person is." She thinks about Logan, swallowing.

Miss Patty smiles back nervously, suspecting something. "I see," she says sternly. "Well, they're one lucky guy or gal to be claiming a quick thousand bucks, eh?" Miss Patty laughs heartily. Lorelai joins in nervously.

"Ha ha, yeah, I'm sure a thousand bucks is nothing to them," Lorelai says through her teeth.

"Those sure are a lot of bags you've got there." Miss Patty leans in. "Getting ready for a hot date?" she giggles knowingly while Lorelai joins in, looking at her purchases. "Yeah, with a 120-watt microwave!" She adds while in mid-laughter.

"Well listen, I've gotta go in and talk to someone about that gorgeous sun hat in the window. It's a one-of-a-kind, don'tcha think, Lorelai?" Miss Patty asks while gesturing towards the window, pointing out a dramatic eyelet dark blue, violet sun hat complete with a dark veil.

"Whoa, a sun hat that'll even wake up Morticia from her funk of 40,000 years," Lorelai says to herself but still out loud. "So what's the occasion?"

"Oh, no occasion, Lorelai. Just something casual, something I'd want to wear from time to time."

"I hear it's the last one. That's one hot hat that'll certainly make the fellas' heads turn."

"Oh, it's a beauty, I have to hurry and get it before anyone else does."

"Hmm, I think baby steps'll do," Lorelai jokes.

"Nice talking to you Lorelai. I'll see you later!" Miss Patty begins to walk towards the door of the shop and then turns around. Lorelai begins to walk away. "And don't forget to say hello to Luke for me!" Lorelai closes her eyes momentarily before she resumes her walk down the street, her smile fading. "So much for a Rory detour." She sighs and turns the corner.

"Zack, please tell me you moved the baby's pacifier and that you remember where you last had it?" Lane walks around frantically, peering under a few items and moving around the corners of the house. Zack continues to strum his guitar, with his feet propped up on the coffee table. "Lane, for the millionth time, I don't know where the pacifier is. Besides, we have a gazillion of those things laying around the house, don't we?"

"Now a gazillion minus one! Let alone, who knows what the value of 'gazillion' is. I mean, the value of gazillion can easily turn into 1. And then, we'd be short 1 entire pacifier for one entire baby! And we have two babies. Count 'em Zack, two! And we know what one less pacifier will produce: a crying baby. And I don't know about you, but that is not my ideal Saturday." Lane resumes her search around the house for the pacifier. A few moments later, she stops in front of Zack, who is still lounging in the armchair. He looks up at her.

"Well, are you going to help me or are you just gonna keep strumming that sillly thing that will formerly be known as a guitar?" Lane asks, placing her hands on her hips, expecing an answer.

Zack stretches and as he does, he furrows his eyebrows in confusion and reaches behind him, slowly pulling out an object that would soon be the pacifier. "Well whadaya know," Zack says as he extends it to Lane, who pierces her lips together and snatches it.

"Your fatherly instincts are much appreciated around here," Lane says, smiling sarcastically.

She walks towards the kitchen. Momentarily, Zack rises up from his chair, guitar in tow. "Actually, Lane. There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"No, Zack, I will not rub your stinky smelly feet again."

Zack looks taken aback. "Uh, not exactly what I was gonna ask, but ok...thanks for the offer..." Zack trails off, looking at Lane who's busy washing the pacifier in the sink. He walks towards her. "Actually, what I was going to say was that a bunch of the guys and I got invited to play in Hartford tonight."

"You mean, you and the band," Lane corrects him, still washing the dishes.

"Yeah. Right. Me and the band," Zack repeats. "The band and I...if you want to be gramatically correct-"

"And let me guess. You want my permission to play tonight." Lane pauses and turns to Zack. "Right?"

Zack shakes his head from his trance. "R-right. Yeah. Totally. I mean, if that's ok with you?"

"Yeah sure. I mean, who would I be to stop you from your passion? You're my husband and the job of being your wife is to cheer you on and recognize your potential. That and of course caring for our children."

"Yeah, totally agree that's what marriage is all about." Zack says in relief.

Lane holds her smile at Zack, who freezes and smiles back. Then, she resumes to her dishes.

"I mean, are you sure, Lane? Because I can always cancel and take care of the twins with you."

"No, no. Lane will be just fine. Besides, I've already done the laundry and now all I have to do is feed them, give them their mid-afternoon baths, clip their toenails, get them ready for their naps, read them some stories, hope they don't cry while I take my late-afternoon nap, and then put them to bed. That's all." Lane shrugs.

"I can't help but think this is a form of reverse psychology 'Kim Family' style."

"Nope, no reverse psychology here. Go on, have fun tonight."

Zack moves behind Lane, engulfing her in a bear hug. "Honey, you're the best!" Lane briefly smiles to herself while scrubbing a bottle. Zack moves around to the dining table, retrieving his keys. "I'm thinking burgers and fries. You want anything while I'm out?"

"Nope, burgers and fries sound perfect." Lane says, then she turns around. "Oh yeah, one more thing." Zack slows before he can open the door. "When were you planning on telling me about this gig tonight?" Lane grabs a hand towel to wipe her hands.

"Uhhh, well you see, we sorta kinda got booked last-minute at this funky hole-in-the-wall divvy type of bar."

"A bar..." Lane trails off, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, a bar. But it's one of the most popular ones in Hartford."

"Popular..." Lane trails off, nodding. "Would I happen to know this so-called popular, funky hole-in-the-wall divvy bar?"

"If you know one called Blue Eagle-"

"I'm going." Lane says sternly, swiftly exiting the kitchen, past the living room, and into the hallway, leaving Zack speechless. "and don't forget the extra packets of ketchup and mayo!" Lane yells to Zack.

"Right. I'm on it." Zack replies, closing the door.